Portable display toy

ABSTRACT

Two box-like portions hinged together to simulate a flight bag and having (1) simulated airplane seats, table and galley secured to the inner face of each portion, (2) a two-dimensional, simulated airplane tail hinged to one portion and (3) a twodimensional airplane nose hinged to the other portion, whereby the simulated flight bag may be spread open to represent a complete airplane in longitudinal cross-section so that a childuser may place dolls and other toys in the simulated galley and in positions at the table. For storage, the simulated airplane tail and nose are folded into the inside of the box-like portions which may then be folded together, closed with suitable fasteners and carried by a handle, just as a flight bag is carried.

United States Patent [191 Gay et al.

[451 May 7,1974

[ PORTABLE DISPLAY TOY [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 337,962

[52] US. Cl. 46/12, 46/1 B, 46/19 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/06 [58] Field ofSearch 46/1 R, l B, l L, l2, 19,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1936 Bigelow 46/12 2/1959Fenton 46/12 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-RobertF. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Max E. Shirk; Franklin D.

J ankosky [57] ABSTRACT Two box-like portions hinged together tosimulate a flight bag and having (1) simulated airplane seats, table andgalley secured to the inner face of each portion, (2) a two-dimensional,simulated airplane tail hinged to one portion and (3) a two-dimensionalairplane nose hinged to the other portion, whereby the simulated flightbag may be spread open to represent a complete airplane in longitudinalcross-section so that a child-user may place dolls and other toys in thesimulated galley and in positions at the table. For storage, thesimulated airplane tail and nose are folded into the inside of thebox-like portions which may then be folded together, closed withsuitable fasteners and carried by a handle, just as a flight bag iscarried.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDuAY 1 I974 SHEET 3 [IF 4 PORTABLEDISPLAY TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the inventionwill be set forth in two parts.

Field of the Invention The present invention pertains generally to thefield of portable display toys and more particularly to a simulatedflight bag toy which may be opened into a simulated airplane inlongitudinal cross-section.

Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. No. 1,609,899 is one example of aprior-art publication disclosing a portable display toy which isinteriorly equipped to represent the inside of a sleeping car or thelike.

Additional prior art known to applicant is listed by way ofillustration, but not of limitation, in separate communication to theUnited States Patent Office.

The present invention exemplifies improvements over the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present inventionto provide a new and useful portable display toy exemplifyingimprovements over prior art toys of this type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and usefulportable display toy simulating a flight bag in a closed state andsimulating an airplane in an open state.

According to the present invention, a portable display toy includes anopenable and closeable case simulating, and having the externalappearance of, a first object in a closed state and a vehicular objectin an open state. The case includes two hinged portions and a unitarysheet hinged to each hinged portion. Each unitary sheet comprises atwo-dimensional representation of one end of a vehicle, such as anairplane, and the two hinged portions, when swung to open position,comprise a three-dimensional representation of the mid-section of thevehicle in cross-section.

Three-dimensional articles, such as simulated airplane seats, a tableand a galley, are mounted in at least one of the hinged portions. Eachunitary sheet may be folded into the interior of the case when it isclosed to simulate a flight bag.

Various arrows are used in the drawings to indicate the direction ofmotion of the surfaces or elements near which they are placed.

The featuresof the present invention which are believed to be novelareset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organizationand manner of use, together withfurther objects and advantages thereof, may best be under stood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of aportable display toy of the present invention in a closed state;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the parts in a partiallyopen state;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the display toy of FIG. 1 in anopen state;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the display toy inan open state;

FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 55of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the display toy in apartially open'state;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along 99 ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along linel0-10 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings,and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a portable display toy constitutinga presently-preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated10, includes two box-like or hinged portions l2, 14 connected togetherby a hinge 16 for simulating a flight bag carrying case when the hingedportions are in the closed state shown in FIG. 1. Hinge 16 is affixed tothe rear end 18 of hinged portion 14 and to the front end 20 of hingedportion 12.

The hinged portion 14 includes a front end 22 which is closed by an endwall 24 to which a first unitary sheet 26 is connected by a hinge 28.The rear end 18 of hinged portion 14 is closed by a wall 30 and includesan intermediate portion 32 formed by a partiallyencompassing side well34 closing the left side 36 of hinged portion 14, while leaving theright side 38 thereof open. The hinged portion 12 includes a rear end 30which is closed by a wall 42 to which a second unitary sheet 44 isconnected by a hinge 46. The front end 20 of portion 12 is closed by awall 48 and a partially-encompassing side wall 50 closes the left side52 of portion 12 while leaving the right side 54 open. Each unitarysheet 26, 44 comprises a two-dimensional representation of one end of avehicle, such as an airplane and the two hinged portions l2, 14, whenswung to open positions, comprise a three-dimensional representation ofthe mid-section of the vehicle in cross-section. The first unitary sheet26 simulates the nose or cabin of an airplane and is provided with adoor 56 swingably connected to sheet 26 by a hinge 58 and a simulatedpilot 60 and instruments 62 which may be painted on sheet 26. Sheet 44simulates the tail of an airplane and is provided with simulated coathangers 64 and a storage compartment 66 which may be painted on sheet44. Sheet 44 also includes an upstanding tail section 68 hingedlyconnected to a lower tail section 70 by a hinge 72. Upstanding tailsection 68 may be folded down to the position shown in FIG. 2 and ismaintained in the upstanding position shown in FIG. 3 by a strap 74having a first end 76 connected to upstanding tail section 68 and an end78 engagable with a snap 80 carried by lower tail section 70. Theunitary sheets 26, 44 may be folded to the position shown in FIG. 2 sothat they will be disposed inside display toy I0 when it is in theclosed state shown in FIG. 1.

As best shown in FIG. 3, simulated windows 82 are painted on the innersurface of wall 34 of portion 14 and simulated kitchen utensils 84 arepainted on the inner surface of wall 50 of portion 12. Additionally,three-dimensional seats 86, 88 and a table 90 are mounted in portion 14and are accessible through the open side 38 thereof and athree-dimensional counter 92 is mounted in portion 12 and is accessiblethrough the open side 54 thereof. A vertical partition 94 is mounted inportion 12 and divides it into a pantry 96 and a simulated galley 98.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the side walls 34, 50 may each be made from asuitable sheet of material, such as cardboard, having an arcuate section100, a first straight section 102 extending at right angles from thelower edge 104 thereof and a second straight section 106 depending fromthe upper edge 108 thereof.

The front wall 24 of portion 14 and the first unitary sheet 26 may beformed from a single piece of any suitable materail, such as cardboard,and the front wall 24 is connected to side wall 34 by a connector 110having an arcuate portion 112 and a straight portion 114. The rear wall30 of portion 14 and the front wall 48 of portion 12 may be connected totheir associated parts by connectors 116, 118, respectively, and therear wall 42 of portion 12 may be connected thereto by a connector 120,all of which are similar to the connector 110 and all of which may beinjection molded of suitable plastic material, if desired. A carryinghandle 122 may be connected to side wall 34 by a pair of clips 124, 126to facilitate carrying toy when it is in the closed state shown inFIG. 1. Table 90 may be made from cardboard or the like and includes atable top 128 having a rear edge 130 from which a tab 132 depends and afront edge 134 from which a leg 136 depends. Table 90 may be attached toside wall 34 by adhesively securing tab 132 thereto and by adhesivelysecuring leg 136 to the straight portion 102 of wall 34. The seats 86,88, FIG. 3, may comprise suitable removable doll furniture or, they mayhave a construction similar to that employed for table 90 and may beadhesively secured in position on floor or straight portion 102. Articlepartition 94 may have a curved edge 138 conforming to the shape of sidewall 50 and may be secured thereto by a suitable adhesive means (notshown). Counter 92 may include a counter top 140 in which a smallplastic sink 142 is mounted and is provided with a rear, upstanding wall144 which may be adhesively secured to the side wall 50. Counter 92 alsoincludes a depending front portion 146 having a forwardly extending tab148 which may be adhesively secured to the floor 102. The forward end150 of sink counter 92 is open and may be closed by securing it to frontwall 48 of portion 12. Sink counter 92 also includes a swingable door152 which,

simulates a refrigerator door and a pair of swingable doors 154, 156which simulate sink doors.

As best seen in FIGS. 4-7, each of the connectors 110, 116, 118 and 120includes a lower flange 160 which receives an associated one of thefloors 102 for thestraight portion 114 and an associated one of thecurved side walls 34, 50 for the curved portion 112 and an upper flange162 which receives an associated one of the lower edges of the end walls24, 30, 42 and 48 for the straight portion 114 of the associated flangeand the curved portion for the curved portion of the associated flange.Each bracket includes a plurality of relieved areas 164 forming tabs 166into which the cardboard structural portion of the package portions 12,14 may be sectionally engaged with a force fit.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 9, package portions l2, 14 may be securedin the closed state shown in FIG. 1 by an upper fastener 168 and a lowerfastener 170. As

best seen in FIG. 9 for the fastener 170, each fastener includes aswingable tab 172 integrally formed with connector by areduced-cross-section portion 174 fomiing a living hinge so that tab 172may be swung into engagement with a hook 176 formed integrally with theconnector 110.

While the particular portable display toy herein shown and described indetail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing theadvantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merelyillustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention and that nolimitations are intended to the details of construction or design hereinshown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable display toy comprising:

an openable and closeable display case simulating,

and having the external appearance of, a first object in a closed state,said display case having a front end and a rear end when said displaycase is in an open state; and

a two-dimensional representation of a vehicular object provided on eachof said ends, whereby said display case simulates and has the externalappearance of a vehicular object in said open state, said first objectbeing an object ordinarily associated with travel on a vehicle of thetype simulated by said display case in said open state.

2. A display toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said first objectsimulates an airplane flight bag.

3. A display toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said vehicular object isan airplane.

4. A portable display toy comprising:

an openable and closeable case having two hinged portions which may beswung to open positions to represent a three-dimensional representationof the midsection of a vehicle in cross-section, said midsection havinga front end and a rear end; and

a unitary sheet hinged to each of said ends, each unitary sheetcomprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of said vehiclewhen in an extended position outside said case, said sheets beingswingable to a position within said case when said case is closed.

5. A portable display toy as stated in claim 4 includingthree-dimensional articles mounted in at least one of said hingedportions, said articles simulating structural features usually found ina vehicle of the type portrayed by said portable display toy.

6. A portable display toy, comprising: a first box-like portion havingan arcuate side wall, a

closed front wall, a closed rear wall and a substantially horizontalfloor, a unitary sheet hinged to said closed front wall, said unitarysheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of avehicle and said first box-like portion comprising a three-dimensionalrepresentation of the forward mid-section of said vehicle incross-section; and

second box-like portion having a front wall hingedly connected to therear wall of said first box-like portion, a rear wall, an arcuate sidewall and a substantially horizontal floor, a unitary sheet hinged tosaid rear wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensionalrepresentation of the other end of said vehicle and said second box-likeportion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the rearmid-section of said vehicle in crossa second box-like portion having afront wall section. hingedly connected to the rear wall of said first 7.A portable display toy, comprising: box-like portion, a rear wall, aside wall and a floor; a first box-like portion having a side wall, aclosed and front wall, a closed rear wall and a floor; 5 a unitary sheethinged to said rear wall, said unitary a unitary sheet hinged to saidclosed front wall, said sheet comprising a two-dimensionalrepresentation unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional repreof theother end of said vehicle and said second sentation of one end of avehicle and said first boxbox-like portion comprising athree-dimensional like portion comprising a three-dimensionalreprerepresentation of the rear mid-section of said vehisentation of theforward mid-section of said vehicle 10 cle in cross-section.

in cross-section;

1. A portable display toy comprising: an openable and closeable display case simulating, and having the external appearance of, a first object in a closed state, said display case having a front end and a rear end when said display case is in an open state; and a two-dimensional representation of a vehicular object provided on each of said ends, whereby said display case simulates and has the external appearance of a vehicular object in said open state, said first object being an object ordinarily associated with travel on a vehicle of the type simulated by said display case in said open state.
 2. A display toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said first object simulates an airplane flight bag.
 3. A display toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said vehicular object is an airplane.
 4. A portable display toy comprising: an openable and closeable case having two hinged portions which may be swung to open positions to represent a three-dimensional representation of the midsection of a vehicle in cross-section, said midsection having a front end and a rear end; and a unitary sheet hinged to each of said ends, each unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of said vehicle when in an extended position outside said case, said sheets being swingable to a position within said case when said case is closed.
 5. A portable display toy as stated in claim 4 including three-dimensional articles mounted in at least one of said hinged portions, said articles simulating structural features usually found in a vehicle of the type portrayed by said portable display toy.
 6. A portable display toy, comprising: a first box-like portion having an arcuate side wall, a closed front wall, a closed rear wall and a substantially horizontal floor, a unitary sheet hinged to said closed front wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of a vehicle and said first box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the forward mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section; and a second box-like portion having a front wall hingedly connected to the rear wall of said first box-like portion, a rear wall, an arcuate side wall and a substantially horizontal floor, a unitary sheet hinged to said rear wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of the other end of said vehicle and said second box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the rear mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section.
 7. A portable display toy, comprising: a first box-like portion having a side wall, a closed front wall, a closed rear wall and a floor; a unitary sheet hinged to said closed front wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of a vehicle and said first box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the forward mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section; a second box-like portion having a front wall hingedly connected to the rear wall of said first box-like portion, a rear wall, a side wall and a floor; and a unitary sheet hinged to said rear wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of the other end of said vehicle and said second box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the rear mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section. 